A difficult procedure, or how to iron curtains correctly and quickly
Curtains are a decorative element in most living spaces. They play a functional and aesthetic role.
Caring for many types of curtains involves both washing and ironing.
It is quite possible to smooth out such a voluminous interior element at home if you act systematically and follow the recommendations of experts. How to iron curtains made of various materials - read below.
Content
Is ironing necessary after washing?
The choice of ironing option depends on a number of circumstances:
- personal preferences;
- availability of special household appliances (steamer, iron);
- type of fabric;
- length and width of the canvas;
- the presence of decorative elements;
- features of the cut.
The determining factor is the composition of the fabric, which limits the heating temperature and the method of action when smoothing.
Procedure
Ironing on an ironing board is the standard approach to straightening fabric.
Procedure:
- The ironing board is laid out directly under the window.
- Iron the top half of the fabric.
- Hang the curtain on the cornice.
- Iron the lower half of the canvas without removing it from the cornice.
The seams are ironed only from the inside out and through additional fabric.
How to iron a large curtain?
For large voluminous curtains, not even a standard ironing board can be used, but a larger flat surface, for example, a table. Or there is an option with a wide, long board covered (or sheathed) with thick fabric.
Ironing the curtain usually start from the top edge. This raises a problem: how to prevent wrinkles in already ironed fabric? Freely descending matter can wrinkle even under its own weight.
To prevent this, it is recommended to use an additional device - a round smooth stick at least 1 or 1.5 meters long. Such a pole will help avoid creasing of already ironed curtains.
While pushing the ironed fabric from the board, it is loosely wound around a round stick.. Once the entire length of the item has been ironed, it can be hung in place.
Steaming by weight without removing from the ledge
You can iron curtains hanging directly on the curtain rod as a preventive measure and for cleaning if steaming is used. This method is recommended for large voluminous curtains made of heavy material.
If there are no contraindications to the use of a steam generator or steamer, then set the minimum temperature and maintain the distance between the nozzle and the fabric. Processing is carried out systematically, by weight.
Steamers are:
- floor;
- manual.
| Steamer type | Characteristic |
| Manual | The manual version of the steamer is best suited for simple-to-cut curtain models. The disadvantage of the device is its low power and the need to use an extension cord. |
| Floor | Floor-standing models of steamers are suitable for complex draperies and a large number of folds.These are powerful devices that allow you to very quickly deal with folds in the material. |
Steaming can also be done using a regular iron., which has a vertical steam function.
In this case, the surface of the sole of the device should not touch the fabric. The impact will be performed from a distance, without direct contact with the sole of the iron. The use of hot steam is prohibited for thin and delicate fabrics.
Is it possible to do without an iron and steamer?
In the absence of special household appliances, homemade recipes will help eliminate crumpled areas on curtains.
If wrinkles are the result of improper drying and washing, then it is possible to correct the situation:
- repeated washing and proper drying;
- moistening the surface using a spray bottle with clean water;
- if the material allows, by spraying a special solution prepared from equal parts of vinegar, laundry conditioner and clean water.
The type of material dictates the rules
Each interior style dictates its own design rules. A large number of materials and design solutions allows you to choose the optimal curtain model for each room:
| Type of material | Ironing Features |
| Viscose or polyester | Curtains made of polyester and viscose do not attract dust and do not stretch during use. They can be ironed at low temperatures - no more than 150? C. The steam function should not be used in this case. The iron is moved carefully, without stopping in one place. |
| Cotton or linen | Natural linen and cotton products allow the use of high iron heating temperatures. In order for the material to be smoothed, it must be slightly damp.If the curtain is already completely dry after washing, it must be moistened and ironed using steam. You can also iron with an additional damp cloth. |
| Organza or chiffon | After washing, such curtains can be immediately hung on the curtain rod when wet. But if the fabric is very wrinkled, then it can be smoothed through tissue paper at a minimum temperature. The use of the steaming function, as well as high temperatures, is prohibited - the material may become deformed and develop unsightly waves. |
| Taffeta or silk | Ironing should be done from the inside out at a low temperature - up to 110? C. You cannot use steam or moisten the material, as this can lead to the formation of stains and streaks. |
| Capron | The easy-to-care material allows you to do without ironing at all. If you hang a freshly washed curtain evenly, you can do without ironing. Temperature range – up to 110-150?C. |
| Veil | Iron delicate fabrics only through additional fabric. The steam function is turned off. No force is applied during the ironing process. |
| Blackout | Thick, light-proof fabric does not require ironing after washing. If jammed areas appear, they can be removed with a low-heat iron. |
| Velvet or velor | Fabrics with a small short pile cannot be ironed in the usual way. After washing, the curtain is wrung out through a terry towel and dried. Velvet and velor should be ironed extremely carefully, turning the front side onto a spread terry towel. |
In addition to curtains made from one type of fabric, there are models made from a combination of materials, as well as double-sided.
For lined curtains, straightening must be done for both the inside and outside, changing the heating modes of the iron and selecting suitable processing conditions.
Lambrequin: the most complex element
Lambrequin is an elegant decorative drapery that is attached to the top of the curtain composition.. For the most part, this decoration of a window opening is made from the same fabric as the curtain.
The shape of the lambrequin can be very different, most often with a large number of folds.
Some lambrequins cannot be washed; they are cleaned by steaming or sent to dry cleaning.
The complex shape of the drapery is almost impossible to straighten with an iron. Steaming comes to the rescue.
Fabrics that do not need to be ironed
It is not possible to avoid ironing curtains in all cases. Some types of fabrics are not prone to self-expanding and require mandatory heat treatment. But many materials can do without ironing and still look decent.
Such materials include:
- chiffon;
- organza;
- blackout and some other types.
Proper washing avoids ironing. To avoid ironing curtains, they should only be washed by hand.
The washing process should proceed as follows:
The curtains are removed from the cornice.- Warm water is drawn into the bath.
- Dilute a suitable detergent in water.
- The curtain is carefully lowered into the water.
- If the fabric is organza, silk or chiffon, then you need to wash the curtain immediately. For other materials, a short soaking of a quarter of an hour is possible.
- Wash delicate fabrics without intense physical impact using stroking movements.
- Rinse several times in clean water (cool or slightly warm).
- The curtain is taken out of the bath without squeezing it out.
- Hang the curtain in a free state. At the same time, place a container to drain the water.
- Straighten the fabric with your hands.
- After the water has drained, the curtains are hung in their permanent place while still wet.
Errors
If you lack experience in ironing large items such as curtains, mistakes can be made. The most common ones include the following:
| Error | What can it lead to? | How to avoid? |
| Incorrect temperature setting on the iron. Steaming fabrics for which this method of straightening is prohibited. | If the temperature is insufficient, the curtain fabric will not straighten out, but will remain wrinkled. If the temperature is set higher than recommended, the material may deform, lose its shape, etc. | The product label contains all the necessary information. It is necessary to study it before you start ironing. |
| Iron directly on the front side of the curtain. | Unsightly prints and stains may appear on the front side. | It is advisable to iron through additional fabric or from the inside out. |
| Using colored fabric as an auxiliary additional fabric. | The fabric may fade, ruining the curtains. | As an additional fabric through which ironing is carried out, it is necessary to use a non-fading material, preferably cotton. |
| When ironing, the presence of decorative elements on the curtain is not taken into account. | Decorative elements may become deformed and damage the fabric of the curtains and the soleplate of the iron. | Decor on curtains cannot be ironed from the front side without auxiliary fabric. |
Useful video
This video will show you how to quickly iron curtains:
Conclusion
Ironing curtains is a difficult procedure that has many features. When carrying out this process, many factors must be taken into account. You need to start by studying the label and determining the composition of the material.
When washing and steaming are prohibited, the curtains are sent to the dry cleaner for cleaning and shaping.
